The grief-stricken widow of Andrew Simpson, the Olympic gold medallist who
drowned last week, has paid a moving tribute to her “amazing” husband and
father of her children.

Andrew Simpson, 36, who won silver at the London 2012 games and gold in Beijing four years earlier, died on Thursday when the catamaran he was sailing in capsized in San Francisco Bay. He was training for the America’s Cup when it happened.

His wife, Leah, who had been celebrating her 35th birthday on the day of the accident, last night said: “I cannot explain in words how amazing Andy was as a father and a husband. We will miss him every moment of every day.” Mrs Simpson, who is being comforted by her parents at their home in Dorset, also released one of the last photographs taken of the family to The Sunday Telegraph, saying that she wanted their two sons to remember their father as the “wonderful family man” he was.

The photograph shows the family at a friend’s garden party near their home in Sherborne, Dorset, in March. Simpson is holding three-year-old Freddie, and Leah is carrying their youngest, Hamish, six months.

A friend who was there said: “Andrew and Leah and the children were so happy together. They are a wonderful, loving family, and it is absolutely tragic what’s happened. It’s simply too upsetting for words.”

After the accident, divers found Simpson under the platform of the 72ft AC72 ­vessel, which stretches between its twin hulls. Despite repeated attempts, he could not be revived.

Mr Simpson’s death has stunned the sailing world and prompted widespread speculation over the cause of the accident.

The US Coastguard, San Francisco city authorities and America’s Cup officials have started investigations, and the results could have far-reaching consequences for the event and the sport.

The incident has raised questions over the safety of the £6.5 million AC72 boats being used for this year’s America’s Cup. The vessels — the fastest ever built — can travel at more than twice the speed of the wind and reach up to 45 knots (50mph).

Their design is radically different from that of traditional America’s Cup yachts, and crews have expressed concerns that the vessels are too powerful to control.

Simpson’s boat — sailed by the Swedish team Artemis Racing — had recently undergone modifications to increase its speed.

On Friday, Simpson’s mother questioned whether the design of the vessel could have contributed to his death. “It was the design of the boat — it’s just totally different to the America’s Cup boat,” she said. His father said it was too early to tell, but stressed the need for a full investigation.

Simpson’s boat, with 11 crew on board, was “bearing away” — turning away from the wind — when one bow submerged, causing the boat to flip. Winds were 18 to 20 knots (23-25mph), with waves of between 4ft and 6ft, conditions described as typical for the area and not excessive.

Simpson, who was nicknamed Bart after the cartoon character Bart Simpson, had recently moved to San Francisco with Leah and their sons. The family had been planning to stay there for the duration of the contest, which runs from July to September.